Question

i tried to persuade myself that this was chimerical; that my brain was confused by the fumes of mine hosts good cheer, and, in some measure, by the odd stories about paintings which had been told at supper. i determined to shake off these vapors of the mind; rose from my chair, and walked about the room; snapped my fingers; rallied myself; laughed aloud. it was a forced laugh, and the echo of it in the old chamber jarred upon my ear. i walked to the window; tried to discern the landscape through the glass. it was pitch darkness, and howling storm without; and as i heard the wind moan among the trees, i caught a reflection of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at me. even the reflection of it was thrilling. how was this vile nervous fit, for such i now persuaded myself it was, to be conquered? i determined to force myself not to look at the painting but to undress quickly and get into bed. i began to undress, but in spite of every effort i could not keep myself from stealing a glance every now and then at the picture; and a glance was now sufficient to distress me. even when my back was turned to it, the idea of this strange face behind me, peering over my shoulder, was insufferable. i threw off my clothes and hurried into bed; but still this visage gazed upon me. i had a full view of it from my bed, and for some time could not take my eyes from it. i had grown nervous to a dismal degree. —“the adventure of the mysterious picture,” washington irving write a critique of how irving uses tone to develop suspense in this excerpt. in your response, consider word choice, use of imagery, and the details he intentionally includes or excludes. use evidence from the text to support your response.

Explanation:

Irving uses words like "chimeraical", "vapors of the mind", and "accursed visage" to create an eerie tone. Imagery such as "pitch - darkness, and howling storm" and the constant allusion to the mysterious painting build suspense. The exclusion of details about the painting itself also heightens the sense of unease. For example, the narrator's attempts to shake off the feeling and yet being unable to stop looking at the painting show how the tone, through word choice and imagery, keeps the reader in a state of suspense.

Answer:

Irving effectively uses tone to develop suspense. His word choice creates an other - worldly and unsettling atmosphere. The imagery of the storm and the persistent presence of the painting's visage heighten the sense of unease. The exclusion of details about the painting serves to keep the reader intrigued and on edge.